TOM HOLLISTON & SELINA MARTIN
TOM HOLLISTON & SELINA MARTIN
TOM HOLLISTON
SELINA MARTIN
Baza, Kraków, October 15, 2018
It's the first time ever, I have had a chance to see Tom Holliston's solo gig. He is mainly known for his work with the famous hardcore bands NoMeansNo or The Hanson Brothers. And he also has his own project called Showbusiness Giants.
But Selina Martin was completely unknown here, so it was good to see her play Krakow at last. Especially that she has been active for quite a long time and seems to have a wide range of interests. Not only is she singing/songwriting like everybody else but she can also write a film score (Fred Frith), she'll experiment with electronic improvisation techniques or theremin or musical saw or tuned wine glasses. Enough? Well, she's got more.
But not on this night. This time it was an acoustic set for her voice and guitar. I would say so, although her six string was amplified and she used some additional foot pedals. Selina sang mostly her own songs, which were fine examples of her songwriting skills. She also did one cover. That was a song by fellow Canadian band Rush called "The Spirit of Radio". You could not recognize the original version easily, but I must say Selina's rendition was hauntingly beautiful.
Tom Holliston feels much more at home in Krakow as he's been here a couple times before, notably as a member of a group of hardcore masters called NoMeansNo. He is also well remembered for his playing in another NMN outfit, The Hanson Brothers and his very own side project Showbusiness Giants. But it is the first time we can hear him playing a solo acousic set.
Tom sang some of the better songs from his vast repertoire: "Summer Is Coming", "Honey I'm Home", "Maybe It's Just Me". One was depicting Nanaimo, a town on the Vancouver Island, where you wouldn't expect to find anything more than locusts or moths (or both), a special place Tom had something to say about. And yes, he is a great storyteller with something important to say. But the way he does it is an art in itself. Funny, sparkling, witty, versatile, often unpredictable. Always equally effective as a young electric showbiz whizz giant and as and old grumpy (no, just kidding) semi acoustic singer songwriter.
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